Clayton Kershaw may return Thursday vs. Nationals

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, May 6, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor follows through on his grand slam against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 15, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Bud Norris throws a pitch to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 15, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX >> The clock is ticking for someone in the Dodgers’ starting rotation.

Ace Clayton Kershaw will throw approximately 60 pitches in four simulated innings to hitters from Class-A Rancho Cucamonga at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Left-hander Alex Wood will do the same.

Kershaw should be ready to come off the disabled list after passing this final hurdle and could start for the Dodgers as early as Thursday in Washington or Friday in St. Louis. Wood will most likely go on a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment before he is activated from the DL some time around the start of August.

But Kershaw’s return next week will give the Dodgers six starting pitchers.

“Obviously with Clayton coming back, I don’t foresee a six-man rotation for any extent of time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’ll make that decision when the time comes.”

Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu has the most tenuous hold on a spot in the Dodgers’ current rotation. He gave up six runs in less than five innings in his first start back in the majors following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder.

But neither Ryu or Brandon McCarthy are candidates to move to the bullpen. Neither are Scott Kazmir or Kenta Maeda who have made one relief appearance each in their extensive professional careers.

Bud Norris is the only member of the current rotation with any experience pitching out of the bullpen. He made 12 relief appearances for the Atlanta Braves this season after losing his spot in their rotation after a poor April. In 42 relief appearances during his career, Norris has a 4.73 ERA and 1.46 WHIP.

With Kershaw’s comeback fast approaching, the current group figures to get one more start each to make their case to stay in the rotation after the ace returns.

Joc talk

Outfielder Joc Pederson started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday by going 1 for 2 with a single and two walks while playing six innings in center field.

Pederson is expected to get four more plate appearances Saturday and again Sunday before traveling to join the Dodgers for their series in Washington beginning Tuesday.

Pederson has been out since June 28 when he ran into the outfield wall at Miller Park while making a catch. Pederson suffered a bruised AC joint in his right shoulder.

New injury

Outfielder Trayce Thompson was not in the starting lineup Friday against left-hander Patrick Corbin due to lower back irritation. Thompson did receive treatment on his lower back on occasion during the first half of the season. But Roberts said this issue cropped up when Thompson felt something on a swing in Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres.

“There’s a little bit of a nagging something going on,” Roberts said. “With four days [off for the All-Star break], we’ll give him a couple more days after that and see where he’s at. But I don’t want to put him in harm’s way. Just want to get it right.”

Roberts said he was “not going to rule out” Thompson going to the DL if the irritation doesn’t clear up in the next few days. If Thompson doesn’t appear in a game against the Diamondbacks, any DL move could be backdated to Sunday.

After emerging as more of an offensive contributor than expected in April and May, Thompson has slipped into a deep slump. He has just 11 hits over his past 77 at-bats (.143) and is hitting .189 since the start.

Notes

Outfielder Andre Ethier said he had a bone scan on his right leg Friday in Arizona and was awaiting the results. Ethier has been taking batting practice and throwing, but his running is limited until he is cleared by doctors to increase his activity. Roberts said he is optimistic Ethier will be able to return in mid-August. … According to Roberts, Kike’ Hernandez is still experiencing some soreness in his side and is “still in that rehab mode.” Hernandez was placed on the DL June 29 with left ribcage irritation.

Bill Plunkett has covered everything from rodeo to Super Bowls to boxing (yeah, I was there the night Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear off) during a career that started far too long ago to mention and eventually brought him to the OC some time last century (1999 actually). He has been covering Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register since 2003, spending time on both the Angels and Dodgers beats.